Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has voiced his concerns over Nigeria’s ongoing power crisis following yet another national grid collapse. On Tuesday, Nigerians were left in darkness after the grid failed for the 10th time in 2024, including three blackouts in just one week in October, prompting widespread frustration.
In a statement on Wednesday via X, Obi compared Nigeria’s power struggles to South Africa’s recent achievement of seven consecutive months of uninterrupted electricity. "Once again, the National Grid collapsed yesterday. Just a few days earlier, on October 25, South Africa, previously Africa’s second-largest economy, celebrated seven months without any power interruptions, while Nigeria manages to generate and distribute only about 10% of South Africa's 40,000 MW," Obi noted.
Obi dismissed notions that any specific group benefits disproportionately from the energy sector, stating that the crisis impacts Nigerians across all regions and religions. “Is there any tribe in Nigeria that enjoys uninterrupted power like South Africa? When I raise these questions, I am often labeled a tribal or religious bigot. But the reality is, we are all affected equally by this power failure,” he remarked.
Highlighting the need for unified action, Obi argued that only visionary leadership can address these challenges. "We must look beyond tribal and religious divisions to elect leaders capable of transforming Nigeria," he urged. Obi called for leadership that prioritizes key sectors like health, education, and infrastructure to shift Nigeria from a consumer-driven economy to a productive one.
"The solution lies not in tribal or religious affiliations but in leadership that can channel resources into critical areas like health and education, lift people out of poverty, and ensure stable electricity production and distribution,” he concluded, stressing the importance of a collective commitment to sustainable progress.
